Judge Joan Benge made a last pitch to retain her seat with the 24th Judicial District to the state Supreme Court on Friday, urging justices to review critical information they overlooked in deciding to oust her from office.

Justices unanimously called for Benge's removal Nov. 6, finding she threw a civil case in 2001 based on relationships with a fellow judge and an attorney instead of the evidence. As such, the justices said, Benge violated judicial ethics and the state Constitution.

Her attorneys, Harry Hardin, Pauline Hardin and Franz Zibilich, filed the request about three hours before their deadline to do so Friday, saying they "realize this court rarely grants rehearings," but asking justices to take another look nonetheless.

Benge said she decided the case based on the evidence, unaware that a fellow judge, Ronald Bodenheimer, was conspiring with the plaintiff, Phillip Demma, to sway her decision in Demma's favor. Demma's attorney, John Venezia, was an effective lawyer, Benge's attorneys said, and her law clerk Angel Kehoe reached the same conclusions after an independent review of the case, the attorneys wrote in their 14-page request.

Benge will accept a six-month suspension without pay, the attorneys wrote. They cite more than 10 other judges who received suspensions for judicial behavior they view is worse than Benge's.

"Many judges who have been charged with far more egregious misconduct have received a far less draconian sanction than the removal imposed on Judge Benge," the attorneys wrote.

In addition, 163 lawyers have agreed to join in an amicus, or friend-of-the-court brief, if justices agree to rehear Benge's case, her attorneys wrote,

"The outpouring of support continues from both the plaintiffs and defense bars," Zibilich said. "All walks of life are flabbergasted by the results of this case and continue to call myself and Ms. Hardin. They all are literally outraged by the discipline in this case."

Benge, 53, of Kenner, has declined comment. She presided over cases this week. She can remain on the bench until the justices decide on her request, Supreme Court spokeswoman Valerie Willard.

The court's rules on rehearings do not specify a time frame in which justices must reach a decision, but Willard said, "They will handle it in a timely fashion." If the court denies Benge's request, her removal is effective immediately.

Benge was first elected in May 2001 and inherited Demma's case stemming from a 1998 car wreck in Metairie which he claimed caused a cracked tooth - a claim later deterimined to be false. Demma, who wanted more than $20,000, conspired with Bodenheimer, a longtime colleague of Benge's, to fix the case. At the time, the FBI was in the early phases of its investigation into corruption at the Jefferson Parish Courthouse.

FBI agents intercepted a Nov. 29, 2001, phone call between Benge and Bodenheimer, in which she opined about Demma's problematic trial and that were it not for Venezia, she'd give Demma nothing. Yet on Dec. 7, 2001, Benge awarded Demma $4,275. She later told Venezia he was the only reason she gave Demma an award.

The Judiciary Commission, an arm of the state Supreme Court that investigates judicial misconduct, decided Benge made the ruling out of loyalty to Bodenheimer or her want of Venezia's continued political support. The Supreme Court, which has the final say, sided with the commission.

Benge said she was duped by Bodenheimer, whom she considered a mentor, and that Venezia effectively argued the case. Her attorneys asked the Supreme Court to review the trial transcripts and testimony Kehoe gave before a hearing officer. The attorneys said justices did not give weight to these factors in reaching their decision.

"Given the fact that Judge Benge's reputation, her career and her livelihood are on the line, Judge Benge should be informed why her correct decision on December 7, 2001 -- evidencing performance of her duties -- is entitled to no weight," her attorneys wrote.

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Paul Purpura can be reached at ppurpura@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3791.